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Editorial
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Today’s Breeder of Merit
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Brace Yourself
BY BILL SHELTON
Contents APRIL 8, 2011
BY ANDREW BRACE
22 Question Of The Week BY MATTHEW H. STANDER
26 White Paper: Interstate Animal Transport Industry BY ARNOLD L. GOLDMAN, DVM, MS (MPH IN PROGRESS)
30 A Thought To Consider: Some Ideas About Specialty Shows BY SEYMOUR WEISS
34 Bests Of The Week 38 Ten Questions BY LESLIE BOYES
42 GSMD: A Breed With Almost As Many “Monikers” As Jobs BY MJ NELSON
46 A Tale of Tails
BY LINDA P. MICHELS, CHAIRMAN OF THE ARC TAIL DOCKING COMMITTEE
50 Communicating With Your Dog BY CARLOTTA COOPER
54 Who Is An AR Vet? BY PATRICIA GAIL BURNHAM
58 All In The Family: What Does Your Dog Say About You? BY CHARLES C. ROBEY
62 The Fancy Speaks BY MARJORIE MARTORELLA
64 Rare Breeds Of The World: Hokkaido Inu BY AGNES BUCHWALD
68 Off The Leash BY SHAUN COEN
All advertisements are copyrighted and owned by DOG NEWS, Harris Publications, unless received cameraready. Permission to reprint must be requested in writing.
70 Vicissitudes, The So-Called Health Conference And More BY MATTHEW H. STANDER
72 Connie’s Comments BY CONNIE VANACORE
80 The Gossip Column BY EUGENE Z. ZAPHIRIS
92 Click – Newnan Kennel Club BY MARCELO VERAS
100 Click - The Way We Were BY VICKI HOLLOWAY
102 Letters To The Editor 4 Dog News
106 dog show calendar 110 handlers directory 112 subscription rates 114 classified advertising 116 advertising rates
DOG NEWS (ISSN 0886-2133) is published weekly except the last two weeks in December by Harris Publications, 1115 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10010. Periodical Postage paid at New York. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to DOG NEWS, 1115 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10010
10
Editorial
14
Today’s Breeder of Merit
18
Brace Yourself
BY BILL SHELTON
Contents APRIL 8, 2011
BY ANDREW BRACE
22 Question Of The Week BY MATTHEW H. STANDER
26 White Paper: Interstate Animal Transport Industry BY ARNOLD L. GOLDMAN, DVM, MS (MPH IN PROGRESS)
30 A Thought To Consider: Some Ideas About Specialty Shows BY SEYMOUR WEISS
34 Bests Of The Week 38 Ten Questions BY LESLIE BOYES
42 GSMD: A Breed With Almost As Many “Monikers” As Jobs BY MJ NELSON
46 A Tale of Tails
BY LINDA P. MICHELS, CHAIRMAN OF THE ARC TAIL DOCKING COMMITTEE
50 Communicating With Your Dog BY CARLOTTA COOPER
54 Who Is An AR Vet? BY PATRICIA GAIL BURNHAM
58 All In The Family: What Does Your Dog Say About You? BY CHARLES C. ROBEY
62 The Fancy Speaks BY MARJORIE MARTORELLA
64 Rare Breeds Of The World: Hokkaido Inu BY AGNES BUCHWALD
68 Off The Leash BY SHAUN COEN
All advertisements are copyrighted and owned by DOG NEWS, Harris Publications, unless received cameraready. Permission to reprint must be requested in writing.
70 Vicissitudes, The So-Called Health Conference And More BY MATTHEW H. STANDER
72 Connie’s Comments BY CONNIE VANACORE
80 The Gossip Column BY EUGENE Z. ZAPHIRIS
92 Click – Newnan Kennel Club
106 dog show calendar
100 Click - The Way We Were
112 subscription rates
BY MARCELO VERAS
BY VICKI HOLLOWAY
102 Letters To The Editor 4 Dog News
110 handlers directory 114 classified advertising 116 advertising rates
DOG NEWS (ISSN 0886-2133) is published weekly except the last two weeks in December by Harris Publications, 1115 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10010. Periodical Postage paid at New York. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to DOG NEWS, 1115 Broadway, New York, N.Y. 10010
Dog News 5
PUBLISHER
DOG NEWS COVER STORY - APRIL 8, 2011
STANLEY R. HARRIS EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
EUGENE Z. ZAPHIRIS CREATIVE DIRECTOR
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SHAUN COEN Y. CHRISTOPHER KING ACCOUNTING
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CONTRIBUTING EDITORS Sharon Anderson Lesley Boyes Andrew Brace Agnes Buchwald Shaun Coen Carlotta Cooper Geoff Corish Allison Foley Yossi Guy John Mandeville Desmond J. Murphy M. J. Nelson Robert Paust Sharon Sakson Gerald Schwartz Kim Silva Matthew H. Stander Karl Stearns Sari Brewster Tietjen Patricia Trotter Connie Vanacore Carla Viggiano Nick Waters Seymour Weiss Minta (Mike) Williquette DOG NEWS PHOTOGRAPHERS Chet Jezierski Perry Phillips Kitten Rodwell Leslie Simis
DOG NEWS is sent to all AKC approved Conformation Judges every week on a complimentary basis. No part of this publication can be reproduced in any form without written permission from the editor. The opinions expressed by this publication do not necessarily express the opinions of the publisher. The editor reserves the right to edit all copy submitted. 6 Dog News
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REGISTRATION POSSIBILITIES
With the tanking of registrations for AKC and the apparent continuing of same, although the number seems to have remained somewhat constant of late, the report in USA TODAY that Petfinder.com has “celebrated 15 years of success marked by 17.5 million pet adoptions” is something of an eye-opener. Of course no one knows what percentage of pets adopted were dogs but one can presume the percentage is on the high side rather than the low one. This animal data base is obviously extremely popular -just punch in your ZIP code and the kind of animal you want, and the website shows pictures and information about them. The thought must have occurred to you just as it did to these pages as to why AKC does not have a similar program. Well indeed it does—two of them in fact. One started about four years ago with its On-line registration attempts and the other with its Breeder of Merit program. (See Bill Shelton’s article on that program in this issue). These pages are told the On-Line Breeders Program is quite successful as for $30 you can advertise your pups for sale with ZIP Code registration while the new Breeders of Merit will offer a similar but free advert for people who qualify. Two problems that these pages see—ONE, Few people seem to be aware that AKC has one much less two such programs. Instead of going into the Reserve Fund as Directors Gladstone and Ashby seem to want to do and invade $10 million of the Fund to make the public more aware of the advantages of owning an AKC pup, how about publicizing at minimal costs the existence of these programs!! And TWO, and as importantly, these pages would REQUIRE that not only must the litters be AKC registered by that each puppy advertised be AKC registered as well!! Today that’s not the case—just litters need be registered. These pages reject the argument that individual registration requirement would discourage people from using the program since the cost is minimal and can be passed onto the purchaser of the puppies at no appreciable expense. After all if a Massachusetts shelter agency can set the following fees which they post online as adoption prices for strays brought in from Puerto Rico at Puppies $395 - $450 Teens (5 - 10 months) $295 - $400 Small dogs $295 - $400 Large dogs $250 - $350 then tell us why Breeders can not add a $20 charge onto their fees and thereby force registration upwards again!
THE TESTING and THE EXAGGERATION DILEMMAS
Testing coats for “illegal” substances in the UK is the new cause célèbre! This combined with the Kennel Club encouraging judges to look for winners who lack obvious exaggerations has caused all sorts of discussion in the UK and deserves to be discussed in the States as well. Let’s take the faking of the natural color of a dog’s coat. Whether these are subtle enhancements or grievous deceptions depends one would think about what the point of a dog show truly is. Is it a beauty contest or a place aimed at the selection of future breeding stock? If someone sees a black dog in the ring asks a DOG WORLD editorial and is interested in using it at stud, then they are entitled to know that it genuinely is as black as it seems. So that faking color should be a constant no-no but what about adding extra coat in the form of switches particularly in the so-called sculptured breeds if
Editorial APRIL 8, 2011
10 Dog News
some residue of chalk in the hard-coated terrier is seen? Not as grievous one would presume except where the so-called ‘presentation’ is taken to the extreme. Really spraying the exhibit to death in or out of the ring or in full view of the spectators should be as taboo as the person who leaves a chalk mess in the grooming areas. AKC just seems to ignore these infractions as though they do not exist. Why not just do away with them or enforce the rules seems a fair question to pose.
EXAGGERATIONS
There are exaggerations and exaggerations in certain breeds of this there can be little doubt. But it is difficult to eliminate certain exaggerations in a breed where the type preferred in the country of origin is, one must admit, more extreme than may be ideal in today’s climate of thinking. The Neapolitan Mastiff has come under sever scrutiny in the UK since Crufts as two major veterinary bodies have thrown the gauntlet to the Kennel Club after their attention was drawn to photographs of the Neapolitan Mastiff exhibited there. Whether these dogs’ unusual breed characteristics should be modified to the point of being deregistered due to the condemnation of Jemima Harrison, who called them “mutants” on her blog, is of course a useless and selfeffacing position to take. The fact is that banning the breed would not solve the issue as people will continue to breed them nonetheless. There is certainly a long-term commitment on the part of the parent club here and in the UK to achieve the goal of producing dogs that display the very best balance of both breed type and optimum health. If these pages are correct the American bred Neapolitans do not seem as exaggerated as those in Europe for sure and perhaps even the UK. It would seem that our breeders have been able to cross that line and produce a more modified breed with characteristics which still result in what most people think a Neapolitan Mastiff should look like.
SWEEPS AT SPECIALITIES
The need to have people adjudicate at Sweepstakes, particularly Nationals, who are well versed in the breed is more acute than ever. How many sweeps have you watched of late which are being adjudicated upon by people with a real breed background and a true interest in the breed? Does it seem to you that these positions are filled by the wannabe judge, a person who is using the appointment as little more than an opportunity to advance within the judging ranks. These Sweeps can shape the future of any breed and the appointments must be made with due consideration to the background of the people being asked to judge. It’s bad enough that the experience of the regular class judge is questionable in all too many an instant. Why compound the error and have people appointed to do sweeps who have no real interest or background in a breed with which to begin.
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Well the Board will be meeting next week—April 11 and 12. One absolutely new member in Mr. Amen, two faces not seen in two years, Battaglia and Gladstone. The Smith Committee met the day after the elections on the possibility of changing the existing judging approval system. Consistent with its past meeting or meetings no official announcement relative to the progress made, if any was made. Akin to the abbreviated Board Minutes, which reveal little of actual discussions, the Fancy is kept in the dark until announcement time. At announcement time most people are so taken aback by surprise or lack of attention to what was going on that the immediate reaction to most new Board ideas is rejection, horror or dismissal. When will they learn that this is the day of new means of communication—keeping people abreast of what is being planned is not the worst idea in the world—want to prevent another Pet Plan fiasco??? Let people in on what you are thinking is our advice--take it or not!!
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Today’s Breeder of Merit A
ll breeders should be encouraged to become part of the AKC Breeder of Merit program; rather they are simply qualified at an entry level basis, or are over achievers, which far surpass any expectations and or prerequisite. AKC wants all responsible breeders’ input, even those who may qualify and aren’t necessarily breeding any longer. AKC knows that all degrees of participation will shape a balanced curriculum dedicated to advancing all aspects of today’s breeder. Rather you read another word of this article or not, check it all out at http:// www.akc.org/breederofmerit. Here is an opportunity for all of us to take part in the development of an innovative program which AKC is cultivating for all responsible breeders to come together, stand behind, and celebrate what we do best: Breed the healthiest, well socialized, trained and standard conforming dogs in the world today. If by chance you’re a naysayer or skeptic of what you may have heard about any part of the program, AKC still wants your participation and input today. No individual should assume they know what this program will become. Why? Because we are all being invited to participate and give our own vision and thoughts to the AKC now, and in the future. The future is basically in all our hands and I suspect the program will always be a work in progress, evolving and representing as a whole a broad spectrum of responsible “AKC Breeders of Merit”. You are encouraged to forward your suggestions to http://mail.verizon. com/webmail/%22http://mailto:txy@akc.org%22txy@akc.org or to learn more simply contact Tina Yuhl at 919-816 3932. Whatever an “AKC Breeder of Merit” looks like today, it will be sure to evolve. I for one believe with all of our participation it will become what we envision. It should never belong to any specific majority or minority group but simply represent all responsible breeders of merit. What are the entry level requirements for a Breeder of Merit today? • Certify that applicable health screens are performed on the sire and dam as recommended by a Parent Club. • Hold membership in an AKC club. •Have a history of at least 5 years involvement with AKC events. • Earn Conformation, Companion and/or Performance titles on at least 4 dogs they have bred/co-bred. • Demonstrate their commitments to ensuring 100% of puppies they produce are AKC registered. Join and move forward with what will become one of the most progressive advocacies of breeders anywhere in the world. It costs nothing to be included just go to AKC.org and then to “AKC Breeder of Merit”, the application is available there. With so many unlimited possibilities and proposals just on the horizon for the “Breeder of Merit’ program through education, mentoring, networking, support services, extended events, and recognition. There are just too many to list and all just for the taking. The AKC “Breeder of Merit” program was only launched officially this year and is already headed towards five thousand strong. Imagine what a voice this could be for responsible breeders if all who are eligible would step forward and participate. Here’s an opportunity to give back to all those who have mentored you and I, by simply turning around and offering our support and wisdom to the next generation of “AKC Breeders of Merit”. The role call is already a who’s who of the greatest contemporary breeders of our time, and in some instances history. There are several new programs being planned for in the near and distant future, stay tuned. I for one have al-
By Bill Shelton 14 Dog News
ready forwarded a few of my own ideas for the evolvement of the Breeder Of Merit program and extended events. I would like to discuss a few other ideas and issues with all of you today. The requirement that states “Certify that applicable health screens are performed on the sire and dam as recommended by the Parent Club.” It would appear putting all Parent Clubs in charge of heath screening and testing requirements is as random as those who test. Some Parent Clubs have no—zero— requirements for testing and health screening; others have extensive requirements with most other clubs somewhere in-between. Many Parent Clubs’ committees have no actual veterinarian or scientific direction, but only the volunteers’ opinions of those who sit on the committee. Some Parent Clubs have no active committees. You can see where I’m going with this. We need to identify a relative benchmark or standardization to establish guidelines in assisting Parent Clubs themselves. If health screening is to be a legitimate requirement by AKC to be a breeder of merit, I would suggest creating a team of veterinarians and scientists to look into what each parent club should consider minimally as a standard requirement as a baseline from which to go forward. Then have the same team of veterinarians, and or scientists, appointed by AKC to assist these Parent Club committees individually in prioritizing and identifying health issues in a specific breed’s greater populations. These committees, of course, would meet periodically as breeds evolve into and out of a particular disease.
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he next question is if AKC plans to validate testing by individual participants of the program? If so they have their work cut out for them. Not all breeders use one testing method or measurement; reporting agencies are different. What if a breeder does test (with a passing result) and is in possession of the documented results, but has chosen for one reason or another not to record them with a reporting agency? What if a breeder chooses to breed a dog or bitch on from a simple recessive inheritance pattern like say vWD and one is clear and the other affected, resulting in a litter of carriers but not affected? How would this effect participation in the program? Who gets to decide what are acceptable breeding practices and what aren’t? Depending on the Parent Club and who sits on the committee, this could all become a slippery slope. It’s a huge position of responsibility and authority, one that should be given far more consideration by the AKC before giving over regulatory stewardship to several diverse organizations with many different aptitudes and resources. Second, why not require the Breeder of Merit to microchip every puppy they place or sell? This would increase the likelihood of each Breeder of Merit’s resulting get to be returned to the owner or breeder if they should ever become lost or stolen. Again, if validation of testing is to ever be a pertinent part of the program, we must have a conclusive means of identifying who the test subjects are by positive identification. Third, let’s take another step forward and require the Breeder Of Merit to DNA all breeding stock, providing proof that we are willing to stand behind the purity of our breeding programs by absolute DNA identification. Future research and DNA databases could be accessed to identify disease pattern of dogs in future case studies (This database can be accessed with no individual’s breeding program identified, but just nameless data used). Fourth, “Demonstrate their commitments to ensuring 100% of the puppies they produce are AKC registered”. We should all make a sincere effort to register all of our puppies. The result of this will bring resources to the AKC’s ability to advocate for dogs and their owners on a national scene. It’s a simple thing to try and meet 100% registration for the organization, which is our voice on so many levels. Let’s all try. None of the before mentioned issues are to be seen as reasons to not participate but rather ideas we should be looking towards improving. I sincerely hope you will forward your ideas to the AKC and become a part of the Breeder of Merit program.
*CC Breed points
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BRACE YOURSELF
Presentation and Perspective
The Kennel Club has clearly defined rules and regulations regarding the presentation of dogs for exhibition. Reading them, no one could be left in any doubt that the application of any foreign substance that alters either the colour or the texture of a dog’s coat is not permitted. When entering for any dog show that is held under the auspices of The Kennel Club, exhibitors have to sign a declaration that they agree to abide by the Kennel Club’s rules.
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hus it cannot be argued that exhibitors are not aware of their obligation when it comes to presenting their dogs in the British show ring. In days gone by certain terrier breeds were very openly covered in chalk, their colour enhanced with daffy. The oncetraditional wearing of full-length white overalls by terrier handlers, notably of Bull Terriers, was a practical and simple way of keeping the wearers’ clothes clean and tidy and free of the powder that would at some stage inevitably be transferred from their charges. Gradually, over the years, and in the wake of the Kennel Club being very vocal about presentation, excessive chalking has all but disappeared, but only a fool would claim that exhibitors in the UK never use a little chalk to clean up a coat, albeit having sworn that everything has since been brushed out before entering the ring. Traditionally Poodle exhibitors have enlisted the help of a little hairspray to hold topknots as they got longer and longer and higher and higher. In the old days, much closer trimming meant that all that was needed for a topknot to stand firmly was correct coat texture, however as they became more and more elaborate, simple physics meant that a little extra help was needed. In the past there have been several well publicised cases of exhibitors having been disciplined for incorrect presentation when coat samples, taken randomly at dog shows, have shown that foreign substances have been present. These have invariably been fiercely denied in the main, and several of the accused have gone to great pains, not to mention expense, to prove that if unacceptable substances had been found in their dogs’ coats, they were not responsible for them getting there. The method of random coat testing basically involves the Kennel Club confidentially advising a show secretary that, at their show, the winners of certain awards will need to have their coats tested immediately after judging. This basically means that show officials take the dog and its handler to the veterinarian’s office where coat samples are removed, one sample finding its way the laboratory chosen by the Kennel Club, another being given to the dog’s handler to do with it what they choose. I cannot ever recall coat tests being carried out at Crufts before, but this year it became clear after judging that the winners of the Dog Challenge Certificate and
BY ANDREW BRACE 18 Dog News
corresponding Reserve Challenge Certificate in both Miniature Poodles and West Highland White Terriers were to be tested, as after the awarding of these prizes the handlers were informed and escorted out of the ring, without the chance to even have photographs taken. The fallout of the coat testing seems to centre not so much around the testing per se but around the seemingly heavy-handed methods that were employed. Writing in DOG WORLD, the newspaper’s Miniature Poodle correspondent Jackie Kitchener states “To the public and indeed anyone who might just have happened to be watching at the time, it appeared that the two lady handlers were being arrested for murder! Two security guards plus a further six stewards circled them and marched them off with grim faces through the crowd and off into the distance. “A large dose of overkill, we all felt. Could it not have been handled in a quieter fashion, or is our governing body now looking to embarrass themselves – and dogdom in general – by such displays?” As it happens, the winner of the Dog CC in Miniature Poodles had come from Sweden and the winner of the Reserve Dog CC in West Highland Whites had travelled from The Netherlands. It is reported that the handlers of both these dogs were somewhat confused and bemused by the procedure with which they had become unwittingly involved. The outcome will be watched with great interest. Whilst not wishing to advocate that we should accept dogs that are dyed or taken into the show ring with their coats caked with “enhancing” products, should the Kennel Club not be looking at the whole question of presentation with a modern eye and seeing it in perspective? And at this point of time, when health and welfare is seen as an overriding priority, should we not see chalk and hairspray for what they are? Ironically and coincidentally, shortly after Crufts where this coat testing took place I was sent a link to a TV interview that was viewable online which had been filmed at a dog show in Kentucky. Here a well known professional handler openly chatted with the interviewer about the “makeup” she used on her dog, running through the various products that would enhance both the color and texture of one of her charges. I may be wrong, but I doubt that the high-ups in Madison Avenue are going to get too excited about this, and I doubt that the handler is going to be hung, drawn and quartered for her admission. Even though the AKC has rules about presentation as we do, I don’t think anyone would argue that Stateside a blind eye is turned to the use of “foreign substances”, some of which are clearly evident in some dogs’ coats. At a time when we are keen to promote the dog showing world as being populated by caring people who wish to produce and exhibit dogs that are fit, happy and healthy, should we not be worrying about more serious matters than putting a little icing on a “fit for function” cake ???
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Do you think AKC should have accepted the opportunity to speak at the HSUS Conference in late April devoted to the Health of the Purebred Dog? What did you think of CHF accepting this invitation and then turning it down?
Mary Anne Brocious I think both groups declining the invitation was the right thing to do. We do not want to align AKC and the CHF with the fanaticism of HSUS. We have to improve on our message to the public with heightened visibility and using our events and opportunities to let the public know who we are, and what we do. We must not use HSUS platforms to bring OUR message forward. Joy Brewster I felt the AKC and CHF should both have accepted and presented their side, whether it fell on deaf ears or not. It appeared to me to be a missed opportunity to present a side backed up by facts and figures that most of the attendees probably have not heard very often if at all. There would at least have been a chance some people might have questioned their own thoughts and convictions. Jennifer Stevens They indeed should have accepted the invitation...after all, isn’t healthy dogs what we are all about and wouldn’t that have been a terrific opportunity to find a commonality to unite us even for just a moment? In any case...words to live by: “Keep your friends close and your enemies closer”.
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Gretchen Bernardi The conference in question will take place whether or not AKC or AKC-CHF participates. I can’t fathom not wanting to be at the table, any table, at which the subject is purebred dogs. We may disagree with many of those opinions, but we have been offered an opportunity to present our case and if we have sufficient trust in our beliefs, why wouldn’t we want to defend them? I don’t know enough about the structure or the chain of command for the Canine Health Foundation, but the on-again, off-again indecision shows a lack of leadership on some level and makes one wonder if everything at AKC is now politicized. The health and welfare of the purebred dog is the topic and those are the raisons d’être of the CHF. Representation by a CHF spokesperson seems a nobrainer. And here’s an idea: Dog News should sponsor a public debate between Patti Strand and Wayne Pacelle, charge admission and donate the proceeds to the Humane Fund. Duane Butherus The AKC, along with other corporate alliances, the community of dog clubs and individual dog lovers have for sixteen years generously contributed to the mission of improving the health of canines, enabling the CHF to fund 25 million dollars of research to improve canine health. Researchers around the world have achieved significant advances in preventing, curing and treating diseases of all dogs. We truly have a great story to tell. The Foundation’s Executive Committee with input from several major supporters decided that the HSUS conference was not the optimum venue to present this story. I look forward to having our story presented in a proper forum.
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White Paper: Interstate Animal Transport Industry By Arnold L. Goldman DVM, MS (MPH in progress)
Introduction: For several years, and especially since the
Hurricane Katrina disaster in 2005, an informal industry has developed, the function of which is the interstate movement of animals, in particular dogs, into the State of Connecticut from other states. Editor’s Note: Arnold L. Goldman is a veterinarian in private practice in Connecticut. For over 13 years he has been active in the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association, and its various professional pursuits, including service as chairman of its Government Affairs Committee. Having become aware of the completely unregulated mass importation of animals, in particular dogs, into Connecticut, he did his own investigation and the “white paper” (attached), was the result. Since then, the Connecticut Veterinary Medical Association has undertaken an affirmative effort to propose, negotiate for and work to pass CGA HB 5368, which will create a regime of regulation for the “rescue” industry as already exists for pet stores and others engaged in animal importation into the state (testimony attached). He views the “rescue” industry in part as a profit center for those who do not accept the right of Americans to choose a pure bred dog, to breed dogs, or to engage in lawful animal associated activities. Indeed the basic issue is one of freedom.
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here are many reasons for this phenomenon; however, the driving force is obviously the emotional power derived from a perception on the part of the citizenry and those who are employed by this industry that they are alleviating animal suffering. The good intentions of those Connecticut citizens who would adopt transported dogs, as well as the good intentions of many who operate as agents of this transport industry are not in question. While there are those who are involved solely for profit that alone is not the reason we focus on these practices. We focus on these practices because we believe that they result in a net increase in suffering and an abuse of the animal control resources of the State of Connecticut and its constituent municipalities. The animal transport industry is in the main, informally structured, with a diverse and geographicallywidespreadnetworkofindividuals, not-for-profit organizations, commercial breeders, other informal confederations of individuals and municipal impoundment facility employees, communicating and facilitating interstate animal transport. They use the internet and world wide web sites dedicated to animal adoption to bring potential animal owners into contact with individuals and groups operating as agents of dog transport and adoption. This network and its operation are commonly known as “pet rescue.” Through these websites (petfinder.com and others) Connecticut citizens interested in owning a dog can unobtrusively identify one that meets their requirements and privately arrange for its delivery to Connecticut. Often, individuals based in Connecticut or in other states, operate as intermediaries (“agents”) in placement (sale) of these dogs through their previously developed, internet-based relationship with those in control of the physical facilities where the dogs may be located. These agents generally do not have physical custody of the dogs and in many cases the arrangements are made without them ever having custody. The actual transport process CONTINUED ON PAGE 104
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A Thought to Consider
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Some Ideas About Specialty Shows
pecialties are truly wondrous events, don’t you agree? Those who are connected to a breed make plans far in advance to attend the specialties they can reach. It doesn’t always matter who is judging or what the prizes are. There are many more important reasons to participate in a specialty than the chance of making a noteworthy win. Veteran breeders understand the wisdom of showing the dogs they are producing. Keeping your dogs in front of the fancy makes a statement; it tells all your peers what you’re doing, your aims and objectives and establishes you as a serious player in your breed. A specialty can be properly viewed as a barometer of a breed. Typically, a specialty will draw entries from within and beyond a given geographical area thereby affording a wider view of where a breed stands at that time. Sweepstakes and futurities show us the young ones: the stars of tomorrow if you will. The regular classes show us where the breed is and veteran events show where the breed has come from. Stud dog and brood bitch classes showcase the dogs that their owners feel are worthy of our notice alongside their sons and daughters for our mental comparison. Indeed, there is much to learn at specialties, either in the ring or observing from the other side of the ring ropes. Every seasoned dog exhibitor is familiar with the sometime bizarre ritual otherwise known as judge selection. We have all seen situations in which the person in the center of the ring demonstrates intriguing behavior, making choices can be considered nothing short of exotic!
At other times the results of Specialties hold no surprises for the well informed. But how are the arbiters chosen for these plum assignments selected? In a perfect world everyone who can vote for a specialty judge should exercise prudence and fairness in exercising their right to choose. The selection should then be based on a potential judge’s in-depth breed knowledge, unimpeachable integrity and the courage to stand by the decisions he or she will make in the ring. Remember, I said “perfect world.” Many very highly regarded judges may not always have the depth of experience in a particular breed that would make them a good choice to judge so important an event. It often happens that club members interested enough to vote for judges, but not deeply involved in showing and breeding exercise that right just because they can. These are the people who will know some names, maybe a few faces and vote for those who are most familiar. If enough votes go to the best known judges, those judges may find themselves being invited to judge the same specialties in the same breed repeatedly, but it might not be because they are the best qualified. Another familiar gambit involves a consortium of fanciers pooling their clout to get someone an assignment primarily because the potential candidate could be good for someone in their “set.” Sometimes it works, sometimes not but it always works against the well-being of a breed. And that’s regardless of the outcome. And sometimes it even blows up in the faces of those who engineered the effort. If a judge wins a vote to preside over a specialty and it is generally well known that this judge is good for a particular exhibitor, canny exhibitors may choose to stay away in droves. Just think of how embarrassing this can be for a judge and for the exhibitor with the most to gain. In breeds where there is a fair to large number of specialist judges to select from, there is always the risk that a judge will be chosen who judges very infrequently and that person’s performance will reflect their degree of poise under pressure. The underlying consideration must be the potential benefit the person’s expertise can bring to the future well being of a breed. This is not to suggest that a specialist judge who does not work regularly has little to offer the breed. Many of these people have the passion and the knowledge to bring great lessons to the fancy of their breed. They certainly deserve the chance to show what they are capable of. Many acquit themselves with great skill and, make no mistake; the memory of the fancy is long. The judge who plays fast and loose with the confidence of the fancy today is likely to spend a long time living down the cold shoulder he or she will have carved for themselves.
BY SEYMOUR WEISS 30 Dog News
Now, let’s consider Specialty shows in breeds that maintain a close connection to those breeds’ countries of origin. German Shepherd Dogs come strongly to mind as do many of the terrier breeds. While not directly linked to a breed’s homeland, many judges from around the world have gathered sufficient cachet to draw good sized entries in large part because they sport a foreign address or an international reputation. Many such judges enjoy shining reputations and have it in their power to teach us a great deal, but not all. International judges who lean heavily on the standards of their breeds in their own countries when judging here are not likely to make many friends. We all know that standards very from country to country. Even small variations can make big differences Consider the following true story about a judge coming over here to sort through the American exhibits in a breed in which our breeding is on a par with that of any other country in the world, in may cases even better. On this particular occasion, the specialty club had made arrangements for all its celebrated judge’s needs – except breakfast on the morning of the show and transportation to the show site. Duh! One exhibitor stepped up and offered to provide both needs. Would anyone knowingly want to show to a hungry judge who was tired from walking to the show or taking a bus? Highly unlikely. Of course this altruism came at a price and, as a consequence, this person’s dogs spent the day in their crates. Ironically, no one from the show committee even offered to refund the entry fees. In any case, at the appointed time, the exhibitor now turned chauffeur politely knocked on the judge’s hotel room door and drove her to a conveniently located restaurant for breakfast. Next on the schedule, judge and ex-exhibitor made for the show grounds. During the course of this short drive, the two fell into conversation about the breed exchanging ideas about their breed. With unfailing courtesy, the driver offered some observations on the breed while the judge ventured her own opinions and priorities. By the time the judge had been safely delivered to ringside, her ride was very relieved the dogs that would not be playing today would not have to.
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e have a great deal to learn from foreign judges, but we should never forget that America is a mighty dog showing country without the need to take a back seat to anyone. And we have proven this over and over again. In dealing with Specialties, let us always keep our specialty activity in perspective, learn from our dogs, the dogs of others and all the judges from here and abroad who provide us with the opinions that are the tools we will use in producing the next generation of our world beaters. Thank you for reading.
GCh. Jamelle’s Aristocrat V. Elba Clean Sweep at the Celtic Classic!
Seven Best of Breeds Five Best of Breeds Two Best In Specialty Shows for the Best In Show Winning Saint!
Pictured with Judge Ms.Theresa Hundt at Lancaster Kennel Club. Our thanks to Specialty Judges Dr. Donald Gill, for the win and the Group Placement, Mrs. Barbara Sarti Allen, Mrs. Terry Nuss and Mrs. Anna May Fleischli Brown, Mr. Whitney Coombs and Mrs. Sharon Smith for the wins. Proudly Owned By: Eddie & Linda Baker Elba Saints
Handler: Melody “Snooki” Salmi
Bred By: Michele & Jack Mulligan Jamelle St. Bernards
“Powerful, Proportionally TALL figure, strong & muscular in every part with an imposing head” *The Dog News Top Ten List - All Breed
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“PLUM” PERFECT
Group First - Judge Mrs. Karen C. Wilson
32 Dog News
Best In Show - Judge Mr. William Bergum
The Number One Norfolk Terrier All Systems
Ch. Cracknor Cross The T’s Owners Pam Beale & Beth Sweigart
Co-Owned By Her Breeder Elisabeth Matell
Presented By Roxanne Sutton and Co-Owner Beth Sweigart Dog News 33
BESTS of the WEEK Onondaga Kennel Association Finger Lakes Kennel Club Pekingese Ch. Palacegarden Malachy Judge Mrs. Robert D. (Polly) Smith Judge Dr. Robert D. Smith Owners Iris Love, Sandra Middlebrooks & David Fitzpatrick Handler David Fitzpatrick Silver State Kennel Club Standard Poodle Ch. Brighton Lakeridge Encore Judge Mr. Peter J. Green Owners Toni and Martin Sosnoff Handler Tim Brazier
Scotts Bluff Kennel Club - Sunday Schipperke GCh. Bonchien Cedric The Entertainer Judge Mr. Arley Hussin Owner Kristen Henry Handler Kellie Miller Scottsdale Kennel Club Cavalier King Charles Spaniel GCh. Miletree Northern Star at Shirmont Judge Mr. Joe Walton Owners Dr. Bruce & Shirley Henry and Betsy George Handler Clint Livingston Fort Worth Kennel Club - Sunday English Springer Spaniel Ch. Win More Champagne Super Nova Judge Ms. Patricia Laurans Owners C. Florence, B. Fink, Ken Goodhue-McWilliams & E. Kerfoot Handler Robin Novack
Chintimini Kennel Club Whippet GCh. Starline’s Chanel Judge Mrs. Betsy Horn Humer Owners Carey & Lori Lawrence Handler Lori Wilson
Central New York Kennel Club North County Kennel Club Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen Ch. Celestial CJ’s Hearts On Fire Judge Mr. Jeffrey G. Pepper Judge Dr. John V. Ioia Owners Jean & Charles Hurty, Lynne & Mark Florian & Pam Helmer Handler Greg Strong
Clinton Iowa Kennel Club I & II Labrador Retriever GCh. Kaltrav Caribbean Cruise Judge Mrs. Sari B. Tietjen Judge Mr. Thomas Alexander Owners Mary Henricks, Cynthia Tripp & Pat Kroll Handler Erin Hall Greater Monroe Kennel Club Standard Poodle GCh. Dacun Kaylen’s He’s A Heartbreaker Judge Mr. Lee Brown Owners Virginia Dorris & Kay Peiser Handler Kay Peiser Western Pennsylvania Kennel Association I & II Standard Poodle GCh. Jaset’s Satisfaction Judge Mr. Charles L. Olvis Judge Mrs. Barbara Dempsey Alderman Owners C. Bailey, S. Tompkins, B. Harris & M.J. Winters Handler Ann Rairigh Douglasville Kennel Club - Sunday Miniature Pinscher GCh. Marlex Classic Red Glare Judge Mrs. Robert S. Forsyth Owners Leah Monte and Armando Angelbello Handler Armando Angelbello
APRIL 8, 2011 34 Dog News
To report an AKC All Breed Best In Show or National Specialty Win Call, Fax or Email before 12:00 Noon Tuesday Fax: 212 675-5994 • Phone: 212 462-9588 • Email: Dognews@harris-pub.com
GCh. Ch. Sunteckel’s Samuel II The Multiple Best In Show & Multiple Best In Specialty Show Winning Longhaired Dachshund
Judge Dr. Edna K. Martin
Handler: Lorene Hogan
Owners: Sharon Lutosky & Terry Abst Dog News 35
36 Dog News
10 QUESTIONS ASKED BY LESLIE BOYES OF:
Larry and Janet
Sinclair
38 Dog News
Born: Larry - Blackduck, Minnesota Janet - Cass Lake, Minnesota Reside - Spokane, Washington Marital Status - Married 52 Years
What year did you start showing dogs and what breeds were they?
Larry: 1966, Boxer Janet: 1966, Boxer. Actually, I was the first one to handle at an AKC show.
Which dog no longer being shown would you liked to have shown or owned?
Larry: The Boxer, Bang Away, because he changed the breed so much. Janet: The Specials that we campaigned lived with us. Each one was unique.
Why do you think most people want to judge?
Larry: I think the main reason is to be more involved in the sport. Janet: For me, it was the continuation of being involved with dogs and dog people after 30+ years of owning and professional handling.
Who are your non-dog heros or heroines exclusive of immediate relatives?
Larry: As a vet, the people who volunteer for our Armed Forces. Janet: Being a teacher, I admired Laura Bush for her emphasis on the education of children.
If you could change one thing about your relationship what would it be?
Larry: It’s too late for a change. Janet: After 52 years, one learns to live with differences.
How would you describe yourselves in personal ads?
Larry: Serious but enjoys life. Janet: Happily retired, likes to travel, enjoys judging dog shows.
Do you think there are too many dog shows?
Larry: Yes, but if there are shows, people will come. Janet: Maybe in other areas of the country but in our area, the Pacific Northwest, I don’t think so.
Which are your three favorite dog shows?
Larry: The American Boxer Club National, The Kentuckiana Cluster and Palm Springs. Janet: I agree. The American Boxer Club National, The Kentuckiana Cluster and Palm Springs.
Do you think there should be a limit on the number of times a dog may be exhibited in a year?
Larry: No, the option should be open. Janet: No, should be at the discretion of the owner and handler.
How do you react to people flying in and out of shows on the same weekend?
Larry: I didn’t do it. Small dogs have an advantage. Janet: Depending on the adaptability of the dog, this should also be the decision of the owner and handler.
BEST IN SHOW Judge Mrs. Terry Berrios Thank You!
Multiple Best In Show & Best In Specialty Show Winning
GCh. Tamarin Top Banana “TOPPER”
Owner Myrna R. Kahlo
Breeders Tracy Kahlo Susy Stremel Tamarin Kennel
Handlers Jorge & Susie Olivera Assistants Sergio Olivera, Gustavo Jimenez & Pablo Alsina
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*The Dog News Top Ten List - All Breed
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THE GREATER SWISS MOUNTAIN DOG
A Breed With Almost As Many “Monikers” As Jobs Organized crime figures in this country have long had colorful nicknames or monikers, in “mobspeak.” Often these monikers had some relationship to the job that particular mobster did within the organization or to some particular physical feature:
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oseph “Joe Rackets” Casiere (running rackets), Carmine “Charlie Wagons” Fatico (hijacking trucks), Jimmy “The Bomber” Catura (self-explanatory), Vincent “ Vinny Car Wash” Frogiero (ran car wash business for the mob), Anthony “The Hatchet” Chiaramonti (job was to attack juice-loan delinquents with a hatchet), Anthony “Gaspipe” Casso (referred to his tool of choice as a mob enforcer) and Louis “Louie Bagels” Daidone (owned a bagel shop in Queens, NY that was used to launder mob money) to name just a few. The late Chicago crime boss Anthony Accardo earned the nickname “Joe Batters” from none other than Al Capone when his method of choice as a mob enforcer was to beat up people with a baseball bat. For others, the nickname resulted from some physical feature: Vincent “The Chin” Gigante, “One-Ear” Frankie Fratto, John “Jackie the Nose” D’Amico, Titan ( Ch Markee’s Green With John “Johnny Red Nose” Pisano, Richard “Fat Envy CD RE NAP DD WPDX WWD Richie” Ranieri. The rap sheets for many of these VGS), one of Kelly Nevin’s Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs, has a organized crime figures often listed a whole host natural talent for herding which of “also known as” in addition to their official just needed a bit of honing. Other “family” moniker. Swissies may need more encourThe Greater Swiss Mountain Dog also has agement to herd. a fair number of “also known as” attached to its name since it is called Grosser Schweizer Sennenhund or Grand Bouvier Suisse, depending upon in what part of Switzerland you happen to be standing, Large Swiss Mountain Dog, Great Swiss Cattle Dog, “poor man’s horse” as well as just Titan (left) and Fury (Ch. Matterhorn Whispering plain “Swissy” in the U.S. and these names reflect either a physical attribute Palms Pleiades RA JHD NWPD WWD), Nevin’s two or a job the breed did or still does. These are big dogs that also do a wide Swissies, are happy to work as a draft dog team. variety of jobs that are far nicer, kinder, cleaner and way more legal than any task ever assigned to the members of an organized crime family. Swissies are successful in conformation, obedience/rally, agility, herding, drafting, weight pulling, back packing and tracking. “A Swiss farmer couldn’t afford to have a specialized dog to guard his sheep, haul a cart of product from his cattle to market, guard his property and be a companion to his children. As a result, they needed a very versatile dog. A modern-day Swissy has all the attributes the Swiss farmers need and more,” said Steve Likevich who with his wife, Dori, owns Ch. Shadetree’s Xenia of TwinPine UDX RE NAP OJP TDD DD WWD VGSX (“Jethro”) and Derby’s Whistle While You Work CDX RN TDD DD WWD (“Walter.”) “Swissies were developed to be a utility farm dog,” said Kelly Nevin who owns Ch Markee’s Green With Envy CD RE NAP DD WPDX WWD VGS CONTINUED ON PAGE 74
BY M.J. NELSON 42 Dog News
BEST IN SHOW AND SPECIALTY WINNER GCH. SOMERRI DUNHARROW’S DEVIL RAY
Pictured with Judge Mrs. Gayle Bontecou
THE NATION’S NUMBER ONE* NORWEGIAN ELKHOUND Starts Spring On The Tar Heel Circuit With
GROUP FIRST - Durham Kennel Club - Judge Dr. Robert Smith GROUP THIRD - Alamance Kennel Club - Judge Mrs. Robert Smith Co-Owners: SOMERRI KENNELS, REG. Merrimack, New Hampshire *All Breed points, All Systems
Breeders: Ed Hall Roland Masse Laura Lewis
Owner-Handler: Judy Silker DUNHARROW Winfield, Pennsylvania Dog News 43
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A Tale of Tails By Linda P. Michels, Chairman of the ARC Tail Docking Committee From the ARK - 2nd Quarter 1999 (revised March 2011)
The Rottweiler we recognize.
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lose your eyes. Visualize a Rottweiler. Carefully study the distinguishing features that make you recognize this dog as a Rottweiler rather than a Bullmastiff or Labrador Retriever or the mixed breed dog who lives on your street. Visualize this Rottweiler in action. See him move. See him play. See him greet you at the door. These attributes and characteristics, which distinguish the Rottweiler from any other breed of dog, are called breed type. Now answer a few questions. Did your imaginary Rottweiler have a tail? How important was this in describing the dog that looks like a Rottweiler? Did the imaginary Rottweiler who greeted you at the door wag his whole rear end? By now, you’re probably asking yourself what all this has to do with tail docking. Actually, it has everything to do with why we dock tails on Rottweilers.
in a barnyard in the spring If you have ever had the pleasure of doing chores around a barn, you know that stockdogs’ tails, if not docked, will become fouled with the feces of the stock. On our dog’s ancestors, this build up of feces acted like a weight on the tail and caused the tail to bang the hocks and become sore and sometimes cut. The feces also harbored bacteria and attracted flies, so the injured tail would become infected, causing the dog to become sick and possibly die. Since the Rottweiler was developed for cattle droving and general utility work on the farm, his tail was docked to prevent injury, sickness and death. In my opinion, docking prevented cruelty to working dogs. Perhaps you have heard the lore of the “tail tax”, which supposedly was a luxury tax imposed on owners of nonworking dogs. Since most working/herding/hunting dogs had docked tails, I suppose this makes sense and could be the reason the Rottweiler tail is docked closer to the body than many of the smaller breeds in these categories.
History and Lore of Tail Docking There has been much written about why Rottweiler tails were originally docked. Most dogs with docked tails do work hunting, herding, droving or draft work. The hunting dogs (gundogs and working terriers) often had to work in dense vegetation and briars and the tail would get injured in the brush. Terriers went to ground after foxes, badgers or other game, and the docked tail facilitated working in a confined space. The other working and herding dogs, as well as the hunting dogs, were docked for hygiene reasons. Working and herding dogs worked livestock. Now, I’ll ask you to visualize again; imagine you are
How are tails docked? Most Rottweiler owners have never seen a puppy’s tail docked. I’ll describe the process to help you understand what happens to puppies. Basically, there are 2 methods of docking, both performed at 2-4 days old. I prefer cutting the tail with surgical scissors, which is fast and does not seem to traumatize the puppy or the dam. In this method, the tail is clamped and snipped off close to the body. My puppies have always seemed to object as much to the being held upside down as they do to the cut. The puppies quiet down immediately
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Communicating With Your Dog Communication is a complex subject and most of us spend our whole lives trying to get it right. It’s often hard enough trying to communicate with other humans. Sometimes it seems amazing that we can communicate so well with another species, such as our dogs.
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e’re able to “know” what our dogs are trying to tell us (most of the time) when they give us a look, wag their tails, bark, run to the water bowl, or sit by the door. How are we able to understand dogs so well? How are we able to read their body language? Dogs have been sharing our lives closely for some 15,000 years or longer — ever since somebody figured out that a few meals shared with wolf cubs were a good investment. But humans weren’t born understanding the body language of these early wolf-dogs. And it’s a good bet that these first wolf-dogs didn’t have exactly the same kind of communication skills that domestic dogs have today. In fact, in experiments today, wolves still don’t display the same kind of understanding and interaction with humans that dogs do, even if they’ve been raised by humans. In one set of experiments with wolves raised by humans, the researcher would point or use his eyes to indicate where a treat was hidden. The wolf was unable to make the connection and couldn’t find the treat. But when the researcher did the same thing with a dog, pointing or using his eyes, the dog instantly found the treat. The dog was able to “read” the body clues that the researcher was giving. Being able to read this kind of body language is the result of thousands of years of selective breeding as humans have chosen dogs which were good at understanding human communication. Without humans to guide their evolution from wolves, there would be no dogs. We have actually created the dog from the wolf. You can try this same experiment with your own dog. Hide a treat and just point or use your eyes to indicate to your dog where the treat is. Chances are that your dog will quickly be able to read the clues and find the treat without using any other senses. We have bred this ability into dogs. It’s probable that there are other ways that
we’ve improved the communication between dogs and humans, without even realizing it. For thousands of years we’ve chosen the dogs who understood us best as our companions, as our hunting dogs, as herding dogs, and so on. We’ve chosen the smartest dogs and the dogs who were best at their jobs. It’s no wonder that the communication between dogs and humans today is as close as it is. One of the subjects that I find most fascinating as an owner is communication with my dogs. If you’ve ever raised a litter from birth then you know how exciting it is to watch puppies develop and start learning. They are born using their instincts. Then they begin learning things from their mother. As their senses become more developed, they begin taking in more and more from their surroundings. Suddenly it seems as though they are absorbing everything they see and hear, touch and taste. It’s almost impossible to keep up with them. It’s just at this stage that they start going to their new homes. You just hope that their new owners are prepared for them because the puppies are learning fast and they’re ready to have someone who can begin communicating with them in human terms. Most people know what it means when a dog wags his tail or licks their hand, but there is so much more to the communication between people and dogs. Spend some time with your dog and think about how easy it really is for you to understand each other without anyone ever making a sound. It’s amazing how well humans understand dogs, too. In one show on TV about how dogs and humans get along, called “Dogs Decoded,” humans were asked to identify different barks made by dogs and recorded. They had no other clues to what was going on when the dogs barked. The humans had an amazing ability to identify the situation and what was causing the dog to bark — whether the dog was lonely, happy, in distress, and so on. So, it seems that people really are very good at understanding what a dog is communicating CONTINUED ON PAGE 88
BY CARLOTTA COOPER 50 Dog News
POWER & PRESENCE A CLASSIC INBLACK
Thank you to the following Judges for PONO’S recent Best of Breed & Group Placement wins: Ms. Victoria Jordan Mrs. Billie McFadden Mr. Roger Hartinger Mr. Clay Coady Mrs. Kay J. Radcliffe Ms. Grace Acosta Mrs. Faye Strauss Mr. David Bolus Mrs. Evie Sullivan
Best In Specialty Show Winning
GCh. Naples Tlbrk Dana San Roque Naika Ika Pono Owners: Brunson & Jimet Achiu
Presented By: Dick Schaefer
Assisted by: Joshua Washnesky
Breeders: Maren Cornish, Jackie White-Vorst, Dawn Dana & Jeannette Copeland Dog News 51
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Who IsAnAR Vet?
Why should we care if the AR organizations like HSVMA recruit vet students to their cause?
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here are two reasons: The first is that politicians consider veterinarians to be authorities on animal care. When a local AR vet spoke at the Sacramento Board of Supervisors in favor of mandatory spay neuter, the board believed him. Fortunately we had two nonAR vets who wrote in opposition. But, even so, the high license fees for unaltered animals passed. What the ARs want the vets for is their political weight and also their ability to define animal abuse. Sensible vets are understandably a bit leery of coming out as AR believers, thinking it might alienate their paying clients. It is animal owners that pay for veterinary services, and not necessarily the AR folks. How does the Humane Society Veterinary Medical Association (HSVMA) combat the vets’ realization that being an out-of-the-closet AR person could negatively impact their income? The HSVMA counters those concerns with one of their vet school presentations which is titled: “Doing Well Because You’re Doing Good: How Helping Animals Can Help Your Bottom Line.” And its description is: “A growing concern for animal welfare and increasing public appreciation for positive social impact by veterinarians means that involvement in community animal welfare activities and the operation of a profitable practice need not be mutually exclusive. This presentation provides case studies of veterinarians who have sustained profitable practices while focusing on essential therapeutic services, such as low-cost sterilization, declining to perform cosmetic surgeries, and working with rescue groups and shelters.” It is interesting that in their view sterilization is “an essential therapeutic service.” I disagree. Sterilization is as much elective surgery as tail docking and ear cropping. So their solution to a potential boycott by animal owners is for the vet to focus on sterilization and working with rescue groups and shelters. These groups are routinely strapped for cash. What would the vets do without the owners and fanciers who are willing to pay high prices for care for their pets? They would be a lot poorer. According to the HSVMA’s own presentation, veterinary expenditures for dog owning households rose from 4 billion dollars in 1996 to 16 billion dollars in 2006. The increase is due to owners taking more animals to the vet; the very high prices for procedures that didn’t use to be available to animals, like CT scans and MRIs and new surgeries, and increased prices for even routine procedures. It shouldn’t cost $100 each year per dog to get
BY PATRICIA GAIL BURNHAM
a prescription for Heartguard but it now does since the vets insist on both a heartworm test and a physical exam of a perfectly healthy dog before they will write the prescription. And that is before the cost of the Heartguard itself. When you add that in we are paying $200 to protect a large dog against heartworm. For four dogs that is $800/year. Heartguard is basically Ivermectin which is not even a prescription item when it is used on livestock. I think anyone can buy and administer it. So why do we let veterinarians charge us for this useless service? It improves their bottom line. So do what I consider to be harmful annual vaccinations. Not only do we pay for the vaccinations, but then we get to pay to treat the autoimmune diseases that excess vaccinations can produce. Two years ago, I spent thousands of dollars to treat two Greyhounds for GME (auto immune caused Granulomatous meningoencephalitis) after they had their rabies vaccinations boosted. GME is an often fatal disease in which the over active immune system attacks the nervous system. It can result in blindness and death. Those girls will never be vaccinated again. Over-vaccination is an insult to the immune system as far as I am concerned.
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hen it comes to money for vets the HSVMA and AVMA agree. The Journal of the AVMA says, “The demand for veterinarians is expected to grow 33% from 2008 to 2018 much faster than the average. That growth in demand that will occur through the year 2015 is primarily driven by the growth in companion animal care. Those who understand the bond will be more successful than those who don’t.” And we have more to worry about than possible bad treatments from our vets. There is also the problem for paying for them. Another interesting HSVMA presentation is “Are DVMs Patient Advocates? Prioritizing Conflicts of Interest in Clinical Practice” Its description reads: Veterinarians are often faced with conflicts between the desire to help animals and the clients’ difficulties in meeting the increasing costs of our medical care, as well as our employer’s policies and expectations. This interactive talk will help you consider the conflicts you will likely face as a practicing veterinarian trying to balance competing interests.” So vets are concerned that clients can’t pay whatever they choose to charge for vet care. That leads us to one of the creepiest articles in the HSVMA e newsletter and the second reason why we should be concerned at the rise of AR vets. These people don’t see the world and vet decisions the way we do. The article is one on “economic euthanasia” that denigrates owners for not spending astronomical amounts on vet treatment for elderly animals. It would seem that in the views of the AR vets, euthanizing a dog instead of paying for extreme vet care is about to be CONTINUED ON PAGE 90
54 Dog News
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*The Dog News Top Ten List - All Breed
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WHAT DOES YOUR DOG SAY ABOUT YOU?
A recent spotted bumper sticker read, “Lord, help me to be the person my dog thinks I am.” What about you? What does your dog think about you and what would he or she say, if only they could talk. Well, maybe they just can. In my experience, as a dog and kennel inspector, I found early on that dogs do indeed talk by way of their body language. Contrary to popular belief, among some dog lovers, dogs are not capable of actually talking. Oh, they will make certain sounds that mimic certain words, of which the dog owners will swear that the dogs are saying, based on a conceived notion that the dog sounds are what the owners want to hear. However, dogs do display certain non-verbal communication, such as kinesics, or body language, and certain sounds indicating the dogs’ mood. Yes, dogs have a way of letting you know how they feel about you, be it positive or negative, much to the dismay of some dog owners. Dogs will certainly tell off on their breeder masters, be it good or bad vibes. In early history, dogs in the wild tracked each other by scent. In like manner, dogs will use their sent to track their masters. I remember several years ago we had a small Poodle named “Bear” and believe me, he certainly was a Bear, all 3 3/4 pounds of holy energy. Each Christmas, we would wrap and hide Bear’s toys under the Christmas tree. Invariably, Bear would snoop under the tree and pull out his toys. And, believe it or not, if we failed to place his toys under the tree he would surely let us know. Given the chance, dogs will tell off on their masters. I have visited many a breeding kennel in which it was evident that the dogs were well socialized by displaying all the “tell tale” signs of pleasure and contentment. The dogs would all come to the fence to meet me wagging their tails and raising their ears attentively. Some would even stick their nose through the fence to give me a big welcoming dog kiss. I once almost busted out with laughter as I approached a breeder’s kennel. There they were, all 20 small Chihuahuas lined up against the fence. The dogs all displayed new bright orange plastic collars, displaying large cow ear tags, as big as the dogs themselves. I could have read these identifications from the breeder’s back door. On the contrary to the well mannered dogs, I have observed many situations in which the dogs would run and hide in the corner of the kennel, or under a dog house, as I approached to check the dogs’ identification. The dogs would curl the tails between the legs, position the ears back or sideways and the hair on the dogs’ necks, backs and tails would sometimes stand up, indicating the dogs were mad, extremely nervous or were feeling particularly defensive. When asked, the breeders would al-
By Charles C. Robey 58 Dog News
ways give the classic response by stating the dogs’ reactions were because the dogs just did not know me. However, the statement did not hold water, as the breeders were always present with me to settle the dogs. Obviously, these dogs had been mistreated. Yes, dogs will tell of on their masters every time. Another method of non-verbal communication, observed on many kennel inspections, was the dogs’ barking, growling or whining. The barking was typically a normal behavior for the dogs, as one could distinguish a happy bark from a nervous bark or even a mean bark. However, I learned early on in my dog profession, if the dogs’ growled showing the teeth, I should treat the situation very cautiously. Whining, on the other hand, usually meant one of two scenarios. Either the dog was distressed or was begging for a treat. How I treated the whining situation depended on all the other tell tale signs. Now, I ask you. Have you ever sat down to eat, only to have your family dog crouch down by your chair and stare you down? Would you not give it up and give him that choice piece of meat? I realize dogs are not supposed to be fed from the table, but they do have a powerful persuasive tactic of staring you down. And, what about your dog positioning him, or herself by the back door, when it needs to go out? Well, these maneuvers are just a few of your dog’s non-verbal body language.
N
umerous dog professionals have attested to the fact that dogs will show their emotions. For instance, if the master spends too much time away, the dog may chew up the living room furniture or pee on the carpet, just for meanness. I remember once, before being educated on the proper dog etiquette, I left our little Chihuahua home for a while in a large box. When I returned, this little creature had climbed out of the box and chewed the skirts of our couch and chair. Cotton was strewn everywhere. Conversely, dogs can express positive behavior, in a nonverbal effort to please you, by fetching your slippers or retrieving the morning newspaper. Dogs have also been known to summon help in time of disaster. Dogs will also show emotions, even though they don’t have the same reasoning skills as humans. They will feel joy when you feel joy and they will feel sadness when you are sad. Our little Poodle, Bear, could always pick up when someone in the family was distressed. He would always cuddle up to the family member, as if to say,” I know what you feel and I’m here to comfort”. Although dogs may not reason, or interpret the situation in their head, they just feel that you are unstable and see you as weak. So, what does your dog say about you? Is his or her communication good or bad? If good, great and if bad, well, just work on your end of the spectrum. One thing for sure, you cannot hide your dog’s feelings. If you want to research this business of dog communication skills, I suggest you check out Cesar Milan’s show on your local TV animal channel, or visit his website.
Sincere Thank You to Best of Breed Judges: Mr. George E. Marquis Mrs. Cornelia Howard Mr. Douglas A. Johnson Mrs. Patricia V. Trotter Mrs. Paula Hartinger Mr. William R. Russell Mr. Carl Gene Liepmann Mrs. Elaine L. Whitney Mrs. Carol S. Brown Mr. Dana Kline Mr. Manuel Queijerio Special recognition to Judge Ms. Virginia L. Lyne for awarding Molly Best Of Opposite Sex at the Anthracite Brittany Club Supported Entry, July 2010, completing Molly’s Grand Champion title.
Molly
GRAND CHAMPION SHAMROCK RIVALS BOLT OUT OF THE BLUE Breeders Beth & Brittany Rosener Valerie Dombrowski Shamrock Brittanys & Rival Farms PHOTO BY SARA RIDDLE • SARARIDDLE.COM
Dearly Loved and Owned by Brig Gen and Mrs Michael G Lee. GCHMOLLY@AOL.COM Brittany, Megan & Olivia Rosener Presented by Jason Starr and Page Conrad Korvetteboxers.com Dog News 59
Multiple Best In Show & Multiple Best In Specialty Show
60 Dog News
Our appreciation to Judge Mr. Richard Salsbury
Our appreciation to Judge Mrs. Cindy Meyer
Dog News 61
The FANCY Speaks A New Breed of Exhibitor
By Marjorie Martorella
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wo weekends ago in New Jersey exhibitors came to the March Madness Cluster for three Group shows on Thursday evening as well as some independent specialties, followed by back to back shows for the New Brunswick Kennel Club and ending on Sunday with the Bronx Co. Kennel Club show. The largest entry of the weekend was the Saturday show with 2,222 dogs entered. There were 18 specialties held over the course of the weekend, including the Manchester Terrier National and 28 Supported Entries. The All Breed Clubs offer meeting room space to these clubs to hold meetings and have hospitality. Additionally, there were Heart Clinics and an Eye Clinic. The planning for such a weekend entails an entire year of work. It includes coordination with all of the specialty clubs, communicating with judges, filing the paper work and fulfilling the AKC compliance requirements. The set up day starts at 6 AM with the floor plan for the vendors and grooming space being designated. The members of both All Breed Clubs arrived early on Thursday to get the building ready
More trash.
Dirt left by exhibitors
for the exhibitors to enter at 2 PM. Signs were posted stating that all crates must be stacked. Space for Day Crating is set aside so someone arriving in the morning will be assured space for their crates. Tables and chairs were set up in five meeting rooms as well as in and outside each ring. Enforcing the stacking of crates is challenging. For some it means everyone but them. This cluster does not feel that exhibitors should have to pay for grooming space. We have the building so set up that an exhibitor has choices in grooming areas and there is no reason why they would be far from their ring. The cluster also does not charge for electrical power. It is readily available for everyone. We hire the services of Harry Miller to facilitate the parking of motor homes and the unloading area. This is a worthwhile expense as since we have been using Mr. Miller’s company, we have had no major issues with the unloading zone and the parking area. The cluster also hires the “Foley Boys” to assist the handlers and exhibitors to CONTINUED ON PAGE 94
62 Dog News
Dog News 63
Hokkaido Inu, or Ainu Ken
Cataclysm – • A violent upheaval that causes great destruction or brings about a fundamental change. • A violent and sudden change in the earth’s crust. • A devastating flood. - From the American Heritage Dictionary;
T
he translation of the word Hokkaido is “North Sea Circuit”, and the island was formerly known as Ezo, Yezo, Yeso, or Yesso, this is Japan’s second largest island. The Tsugaru Strait separates Hokkaido from Honshu. (The two islands are or before the tsunami were connected by the underwater railway Seikan Tunnel). The largest city of Hokkaido is its capital, Sapporo. The island covers 83,453.57 km2. The 2010 census indicated the island’s population as of 5,507,456 souls. In conform the Archeology Hokkaido was settled about 20,000 years ago. It is said that the first mention of Hokkaido appeared in recorded history at 720 A.D.. According to the legend a man named Abe no Hirafu (The Abe clan was one of the oldest of the major Japanese clans, and probably is one of the original clans of the Yamato people- Yamato-minzoku which is a name for the dominant native ethnic group of Japan), led a large navy and army, and one of the places Hirafu went to was called Watarishima which is believed to be present-day’s Hokkaido. Around 1573 the Japanese created a settlement at the south of the peninsula, and disputes arose between the Japanese and the Watarisihima residents. The disputes eventually developed into a rebellion. Japan’s Takeda Nobuhiro defeated the rebellion, and his descendants became the rulers of the Matsumae-han. Hokkaido was known as Ezochi until the Meiji Restoration. In 1868 Enomoto Takeaki proclaimed the island’s independence, and named it as the Republic of Ezo. In 1869 Ezochi was put under control of the Hakodate Prefectural Government, and when establishing the Development Commission the Government changed the name of Ezochi to Hokkaido. In 1876 the American professor William S. Clark arrived in Hokkaido. The Colonel was the founder of two universities on different sides of the globe. One CONTINUED ON PAGE 96
BY AGNES BUCHWALD 64 Dog News
Dog News 65
Not Just Another Pretty Face 66 Dog News
2011 NATIONAL SPECIALTY WINNER Thank you to breeder Judge MR. Nicholas frost
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T
Off The Leash
hough we live in a country that believes in a judicial system in which we are presumed innocent until proven guilty of a crime and are entitled to a fair trial by a jury of our peers, apparently there is a faction of lawmakers in Montana that want to make sure that those rules don’t apply to dog owners. As this issue of Dog News goes to press, the Montana House Judiciary Committee is considering a bill, known as SB 421, which has already passed the Senate. SB 421 would allow a court to order forfeiture of animals seized under an alleged violation of animal cruelty laws unless the defendant posts a bond or security sufficient to pay the costs of care for the animals for 30 days. Payment would be required within 72 hours following an animal welfare hearing that finds probable cause that the animals exhibit extreme disease, injury or suffering. What has responsible dog owners and breeders concerned is that “probable cause” is not a determination of guilt and being accused of “an alleged violation of animal cruelty laws” doesn’t equate with guilt, nor does it necessarily mean that one accused of such alleged violations should automatically have to forfeit animals. Proposals of this nature are often difficult to combat. Lawmakers and the general public tend not to be lenient with animal abusers—and rightly so. However, while all responsible dog owners and breeders and rational lawmakers and citizens support the full enforcement of fair and reasonable animal cruelty laws, what many fail to recognize is that there are already animal cruelty laws on the books in every state, including Montana, and that there may be ulterior motives behind the movements to pass such laws. Existing Montana law currently requires that those convicted of animal cruelty be required to pay costs of veterinary treatment for affected animals, and they may be required to forfeit their animals and to pay reasonable costs of care. So why the need for SB 421 at all? And why such harsh provisions considering that the defendant may be found innocent of all charges? And why no reimbursement of costs should the defendant be found innocent of all charges? Under SB 421, if an animal welfare hearing finds probable cause —not a determination of guilt, mind you—of disease, injury or suffering, a defendant accused of an alleged violation of animal cruelty laws would have to post a bond or security sufficient to pay the costs and care for the animals for 30 days within 72 hours following the hearing. If the defendant does not make payment and his animals are forfeit, he loses the opportunity to defend his property rights at trial. There is no provision for the reimbursement of costs to animal owners who are found not guilty or against whom charges are dismissed. Likewise, there is no provision for low-income defendants who cannot pay the costs. Furthermore, by the date of the animal welfare hearing (which could be up to thirty days after a petition is filed), a defendant’s seized animals may be out of his care for an extensive period of time. During the seizure, transportation and impoundment process, the animals may be exposed to disease or may have suffered in-
By Shaun Coen 68 Dog News
juries unbeknownst to the defendant and while not in his care. Simply put, SB 421 is unreasonably harsh in addition to being superfluous. One wonders whether overly harsh seizure and forfeiture laws may be the handiwork of certain animal rights extremists groups in light of the fact that an eerily similar law was also just considered in Colorado. Thankfully, the American Kennel Club’s Government Relations Department is wizened to the ways of the AR extremists and their far-reaching agendas and it was able to assemble a timely response, gathering its constituents in the 111 AKC dog clubs in Colorado, along with the help of the Colorado Federation of Dog Clubs and thousands of responsible owners and handlers who were able to convince legislators to abandon the bill. It was determined that current Colorado law, which already requires a bond be posted to cover costs of caring for seized animals during a cruelty trial, should suffice. All dog owners and breeders must remain vigilant and unified in their efforts to stand up to the scare tactics and deterrents dreamed up and drafted into proposed legislation by the well-heeled and connected AR extremists, and continue to fight for the right to own and breed purebred dogs. As disheartening as it can be to see these overly and unnecessarily harsh and poorly worded bills introduced that threaten our rights and abilities to own and breed dogs, there are also examples of good bills being passed and bills being amended that protect the rights of responsible owners and breeders and the well-being of dogs. In Missouri, for instance, which saw the hotly contested ballot initiative Proposition B pass by the narrowest of margins in November of 2011 only to be overturned some three months later, Senate Bills 113 & 05 have been introduced, and they aim to address the problems presented with Prop B. Most who opposed Prop B primarily had an issue with the fact that it placed a cap on animal ownership. Time has proven that limit laws, like breed specific laws, have been ineffective wherever they have been enacted. Arbitrarily arrived at limits do not address the real problem of irresponsible owners. Responsible owners that take excellent care of their animals are often forced to relinquish their pets in order to comply with limit laws. These dogs, in turn, are entered into the shelter system, which is often overloaded and or underfunded and many dogs are euthanized. Or, becoming more commonplace, they are alternatively being dumped into the interstate transport of pets for adoption, a shadowy and suspect industry—indeed, a thriving business in many areas—that needs to be addressed and regulated. Missouri’s SBs 113 & 95 will remove the 50-dog ownership limit called for in Prop B as well as arbitrary restrictions on breeding ages and temperature restrictions for dogs. The new bills concede that experienced, knowledgeable breeders recognize that different breeds of dogs have different needs and that the government should keep out of the whelping box. Veteran breeders in conjunction with their veterinarians are better able to determine the needs to ensure the health and well-being of dogs. Should breeders be found to be in violation during an inspection, the new bills will allow them 30 days to correct violations and would require a second inspection within six months after the corrections. Those sound like much more reasonable and effective ways to bring breeders into compliance than the draconian seizure and forfeiture measures introduced in Colorado and Montana. Hopefully the Missouri Senate will agree.
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Website: www.bocaboxers.com Email: Bocaboxers@aol.com (248) 361-3061 Alan & Joanna Dorfman (941) 627-1898 (941) 740-1069 Gloria Bower Dog News 69
AND MORE
VICISSITUDES, THE SO-CALLED HEALTH CONFERENCE...
S
omeone who must remain nameless wrote me a private letter in which the person stated that they had been reading about the “vicissitudes of the coming health conference” with interest in DOG NEWS. I had to look up the meaning of the word vicissitude, which is basically defined as a change or succession from one thing to another: especially an often unfavorable event or situation that occurs by chance! In a sense the word does apply to the HSUS’s so-called health conference since I believe that originally its intent (which may still be its intent,) was to demean and downgrade the health of the purebred dog and all of we breeders, thereby making the event unfavorable for sure! Fortunately, and where the word may not apply is to the portion of the definition which states that the change happens by chance, since some of the changes made in the program for the event and certainly the latest change was due to heavy backroom negotiations. And I must say that Dr. James Serpell, who on paper is anything but a friend to the breeder of the purebred dog, has been a most willing and fair person as the program moderator in efforts to broaden and make the conference much more than a one-sided HSUS affair. Fran Smith was added to the program and we all know she will more than adequately present a thesis which will accurately reflect the true state of the health of the purebred dog. The airing of PDE was eliminated although Jemima Harrison unfortunately remains a speaker, while AKC’s CHF was asked to CONTINUED ON PAGE 98
BY MATTHEW H. STANDER 70 Dog News
THE TAKE THE LEAD TAR HEEL PHOTOS BY ETHAN WHEELER
B E S T I N S P E C I A LT Y S H O W W I N N I N G
Dog News 71
Connie’s Comments
The first robin made its appearance today. It seemed a little confused, what with snow and slush on the ground and not a worm in sight. But, one must take it as a sign of hope. Maybe he knows something we can’t see…that Spring really is here.
T
hat reminded me that it is almost time to put together my summer reading list. Every year I make a list of books I should, could, want or need to read over the summer. Usually most of them come home unread from the mountains where we spend July and August, but more about that another day. Nonetheless, I make the list and hope for the best. But before I delve into future literary delights I should make a couple of comments. Some of the books I have gathered (mostly bought at the local bookstore) are really a stretch. Are they worthy of a publisher’s time? Are they worthy of the author’s time? It costs how much?? Why didn’t I think of that?? Then it occurs to me that some of these authors are riding the wave of our dog-oriented society. Almost every week there is an article about dogs in the local and national newspapers and magazines. From the Iditarod sled dog race (just completed in record time by a native Alaskan) to coverage of Westminster, other big shows to local 4H competitions, articles tangential to these events are appearing. Some are interesting and do contain useful information for the novice dog owner. Others are just fluff, which is OK, too, but usually too cute for words. The same is true for the books which are churned out in record numbers, it seems to me. However, starting with last summer’s top books about dogs, comes a sleeper best-seller. Who knew that a book with the unlikely title of The Art of Racing in the Rain by a relatively unknown author, Garth Stein, would turn out to be a best seller, on the top of many book lists, with little or no advertising. Published by Harper Collins in both hardcover and paperback in 2009, (320 pgs) it caught on, mainly by word of mouth from one dog lover to another. Unique in its basic premise, told from the point of view of the dog, this book should be on every dog lover’s shelf. There is nothing cute or maudlin about it, but it holds every truth that anyone who has made a dog part of their lives would appreciate. Be warned, it is a three-hankie book, but worth every word the author has written. At the other end of the spectrum is a paperback The Encyclopedia of Dog Sports and Activities, by Diane Morgan, published by TFH Publications (493 pgs) in 2009. This is a great book of information about any organized activity a person might want to do with their dog. It covers organized running with your dog to agility, field trialing, herding, and all of the other events which are geared to the purposes for which dogs were bred. There are also chapters
BY CONNIE VANACORE 72 Dog News
on the AKC Canine Good Citizen program, therapy dogs and Search and Rescue, just to name a few. If you are considering buying a dog, depending upon where you live and what activities interest you, you might consider looking at this richly illustrated book. It is also a useful reference to recommend to others who are looking for advice on which breed of dog might be suitable for them. Finally, the National Geographic Magazine, March 2011, has a long and interesting article about Designing the Perfect Pet. It describes a multi-year study on selective breeding, which started in Russia when a group of scientists decided to investigate how animals became domesticated and what changes in DNA occurred during the course of this process. Taking a group of wild foxes they selected those animals which appeared to display a single behavior, friendliness towards humans. Within about four generations, the kits began to approach humans voluntarily and wag their tails. At the same time changes in appearance began. By the ninth generation the ears stayed floppy instead of remained pricked and they began to have coat color and texture changes. Today this type of genetic research is widely accepted in other species, both plant and animal. Experiments into the genetics of animals continue today in several facilities around the world, including the fox farm in Novosibirsk. The genetics of biology also is producing useful results in terms of disease-resistant plants.
T
he story of the domesticated Russian foxes has been told before, but this article in National Geographic contains the most understandable, best illustrated material this writer has read on this topic. The red fox has long been the subject of stories, cartoons and movies. There is a family living under a shed just outside of our fenced yard. Our dog knows when they are in residence, but fortunately they do not like to socialize. The long bushy tail, the red color and the prick ears are unmistakable, however, as one or more trots into the woods to look for food. This was a hard winter for them and until the river froze over they had to travel quite a distance to find a place to cross. We often watched to see if they would swim, but they never did. Comments, criticisms, suggestions for this column are always welcome.
Dog News 73
A Breed With Almost As Many “Monikers”... CONTINUED FROM PAGE 42
(“Titan”) and Ch. Matterhorn Whispering Palms Pleiades RA JHD NWPD WWD (“Fury.”) “They were mainly used for carting and moving cattle. But, I think it is important that dogs with working heritages work. In my case, I’ve done some carting with my dogs but I also wanted a pack dog because I like hiking and sometimes it’s good to have a little help carrying the stuff you need if it’s going to be a long or overnight hike. Because part of the breed’s original purpose was as a farm dog, I thought I’d also try herding.” The breed’s size and power are an advantage in packing and carting but can create problems in some of the other sports. “Agility equipment was meant for medium-sized dogs and many of the courses are also,” said Mary Jo Rasmussen who owns Ch Shadetree’s Quixote’s Dulcinea RN OJP OAP NFP JHD NDD (“Sophia”) and Kcier Rasmussens Burley CD RE MXJ OA NF JHD DD MBDD WGS (“Burley.”) “Rally courses tend to be very tight and the cones for serpentine and figure eight obstacles are often set too close together for the big dogs to maneuver. There is also the issue with Swissies that they do not like lots of repetition. Our Golden Retriever will do something over and over but my Swissies will do something a few times and then look at you as if to say ‘I’ve done that already. Next!’ One of the things that helped overcome this issue was to practice what they didn’t really like to do when they were doing something they liked. For example, they love agility. So, I’d make the ‘stay’ at the start line a little longer than necessary when we practiced agility which helped solve a problem we were having in obedience. A big problem is finding instructors that are familiar with training a large breed. You cannot train a Swissy like a Border Collie or an Aussie. They will break down over time and many instructors don’t understand this. However, Swissies are an all-purpose farm dog so they thrive on variety. Cross-training with a bunch of different dog sports actually helps not only to keep them interested but also to not overtax any one set of muscles or part of the skeletal system. The fact that they were developed to be an all-purpose dog probably explains why they really don’t excel at any one sport. They’re a jack-of-all-trades but master of none.” Likevich agreed that Swissies have some tendencies that can cause difficulties in the “Big Three” of AKC performance
Ch. Shadetree’s Xenia of TwinPine UDX RE NAP OJP TDD DD WWD VGSX (“Jethro”), one of Steve and Dori Likevich’s Swissies, shows that big dogs can be agile and energetic enough to be successful in the “Big Three” of AKC performance events. 74 Dog News
events. “In obedience, rally or agility, they are very easily distracted, they can quickly become bored with repetition so you have to be very creative and make training always interesting for them and they are not the quickest breed when it comes to picking up and retaining the skills necessary to successfully compete in these activities especially the advanced obedience skills. Many of the performance activities require getting and holding a Swissy’s attention and that is a key to success. Even attaining a Greater Swiss Mountain Dog Club of America’s draft title requires the dog to pass a ‘basic control’ portion of a draft trial test before proceeding to the actual drafting maneuver portion. Swissies don’t respond as consistently to repetition as some of the ‘as long as you keep feeding or rewarding me I’ll happily do what you want’ breeds. My lack of ability to be very creative and make training interesting for Swissies has held us back. I tell folks that it takes twice as much work to get half as much results compared to a more traditional AKC obedience breed. The result of this is that experienced people who want to do advanced AKC-style obedience don’t get a Swissy so that those who find themselves with Swissies usually don’t have the experience and tools to draw on to effectively keep and maintain their dog’s attention long enough to successfully compete. The most important is do not assume just because a Swissy successfully completes an exercise a couple of times that he really understands it. I made a big mistake making this assumption and I modified my training to be a bit more ‘correction-based’ thinking he was choosing not to do the exercise correctly when he’d mess up in subsequent sessions. In actuality, he had just gotten lucky with those early successes and it took him far longer to really understand what he was supposed to be doing than I earlier assumed. Also, I learned not to judge a Swissy’s progress based on the pace of other breeds, especially other obedience breeds. Having said all that, if you can successfully unlock a Swissy’s potential, the sky is the limit. They are smart enough to problem-solve the most difficult rally or obedience trial, agile and energetic enough to successfully complete the most challenging agility course, easily hike ten miles with a full pack on their backs and steady enough to pass a drafting test or pull little children in parades or haul cut logs from the back of your property, as mine sometimes do. They do all this while being great family dogs and when you are fatigued at the end of the day, great ‘couch potatoes’.” CONTINUED ON PAGE 76
Over the years, Steve and Dori Likevich have been able to assemble quite a formidable group of draft dogs. Here carting on their farm are (L-R) Charlie (Dav-Ka’s Cardinal Virtue CD NWPD), Ava (Ch Twinpine Avenue V Indianola CD TDD DD WWDS VGS) and Indi ( Ch. Shadetree-SVR Indianola CD ROM TDD DD WWD VGS.)
4thAnnual
The Woofstock Cluster’s goal is to be Exhibitor friendly. For 2011 we have not increased any of our Exhibitor fees, Vendor fees, or RV/Parking fees. • SATURDAY EVENTS Tie Dye Day $100 for Best Costume Male and Female $25 Best Dog • Woofstock Logo items available for sale • Music throughout the day. Be there or be square!
June 9, 10, 11, & 12, 2011
Solano County Fairgrounds, Vallejo, CA Nine Specialties 75 Supported Entries with 20 Sweepstakes Host Clubs: Contra Costa County Kennel Club Lake County Kennel Club of Northern California
PLANNED SPECIAL EVENTS Live band on Saturday Night BBQ dinner available Health clinics- Cardiology-CERF-BAER Contact Information: freilance1@aol.com Dog News 75
A Breed With Almost As Many “Monikers”...
W
hile there are some Greater Swiss Mountain Dogs that are “naturals” when it comes to herding, there are others that exhibit little interest in livestock. “If the dog has a strong herding instinct, it is a matter of shaping that instinct so you have control of the dog. The hardest part is getting the dog to learn that sometimes they have to stop and wait before they get to herd again. Stopping and waiting isn’t much fun for the dogs so they need to learn that they have to wait before they get to play. Sometimes you get a dog that is not interested in herding at all and they ignore the sheep. With these dogs, you have to take a few introductions before they get interested in herding sheep. Another thing that works sometimes is putting a second dog that really finds herding exciting in with the disinterested dog. This frequently turns the light on for the dog that is not interested in herding. However, it is important to take herding lessons with someone who is accustomed to herding with large dogs before you start. But, since most people can’t get access to stock without taking lessons, this usually is not much of an issue. My greatest difficulty has been with agility. I have had some problems with the nuances of handling and finding a balance between the dog’s drive and following my directions. Lots and lots of practice and videoing runs at trials have helped me and thus have also helped the dogs. They love to work and mine are very food motivated. Titan and I also had some problems with carting. It took many tries to pass and I’ve often said that I made every mistake possible before we finally passed. In carting, the entire test has to be perfect. One mistake and you don’t pass,” said Nevin. The importance of these multi-titled dogs to the overall well-being of the breed is considerable. “The GSMDCA has a versatility program in which dogs with a Burley ( Kcier Rasmussens Burley CD RE MXJ OA NF JHD DD MBDD WGS) Rasmussen’s other Swissy, does one of his favorite jobs among many that his titles indicate that he’s capable of doing.
76 Dog News
CONTINUED FROM PAGE 74
Draft dogs don’t just start out pulling carts. Like young bike riders, they first need to master “training wheels.” Sophia (Ch Shadetree’s Quixote’s Dulcinea RN OJP OAP NFP JHD NDD), one of Mary Jo Rasmussen’s Swissies, learns some of her first lessons on the way to her NDD title.
championship, a CD and two working titles in two different areas or a CD and three working titles in three different areas get a versatility designation. There are some breeders who believe that having good working ability in addition to being a conformationally correct and healthy dog is very important. Dogs that have working ability are very important to this breed because it is a utility breed. If the dogs lose the ability to do draft work or herding or packing, what makes Swissies unique will also be lost. This is a distinct possibility as more and more people seem to want flashy dogs that only do conformation. It’s a sad fact that way too many breeding decisions are made with conformation in mind first and working abilities either second or not considered at all,” said Nevin. “First of all, it is important for a breed to maintain ties to its historical roots,” said Rasmussen. “It lets a breeder know that we are producing dogs that are capable of the work they were meant to do. Multiple titles stand as beacons to other Swissy owners showing what our dogs are capable of doing and, I hope, also beckon them to go for it—the fact that others have succeeded perhaps serving as inspiration to other Swissy owners.”
Dog News 77
A Tale of Tails CONTINUED FROM PAGE 46
and go right back to sleep. If their dam is there, they will nurse right away. Rottweiler mothers do not seem concerned that there’s a tail missing, and will go about their business of cleaning and feeding the puppies. The second method of docking is banding. A band, usually an orthodontic rubber band, is placed very tightly around the tail, close to the body. The tail shrivels up and falls off in 3-7 days. Again, neither the puppies nor the dam seem to be bothered by the procedure. Just as with tail docking, many Rottweiler owners have never seen puppies less than a week old. We have all seen TV movies of newborn horses or cows struggling to stand and walk. Puppies are not like foals or calves. When puppies are born, they cannot see, hear, regulate their body temperature or walk. Their eyes do not open until 10 - 14 days and their ears are sealed shut until their third week. They must be kept in a warm environment, since they will die of hypothermia if pushed away from the dam and other puppies (if the breeder does not intervene and put a heat source in the whelping box). Young puppies cannot urinate nor defecate without the stimulus of the dam licking them. They have activated sleep, which causes puppies to twitch. This jerking and twitching helps puppies develop muscle tone and motor control. In short, puppies less than a week old are not fully developed neurologically. For this reason, I do not feel puppies are traumatized by tail docking at 2-4 days. It is important to note that the tails are docked at 2-4 days old. Tail docking performed on adult dogs is major surgery and can affect balance, since the dog has grown up with this big rudder on his rear, and he is fully developed neurologically.
topline, shorter back and medium length croup are the design of an almost square, broad and deep dog who is capable of trotting for long time periods without tiring. This tailless structure has a center of gravity located in the front half of the dog. The standards say that the Rottweiler’s tail carriage is “an extension of the topline”. This dropped tail shows the greatly lengthened croup.
To add a long, heavy tail to the structure described in the standards would change the center of gravity, moving it towards the rear of the dog. This would lessen the Rottweiler’s ability as an endurance trotter, unless the croup we desire today changes. Mechanically and kinematically speaking, it must be lengthened and rounded if the desired tail carriage is down to facilitate the mechanics of trotting tirelessly for a long time. Likewise, if the desired carriage is curled tightly over the back, a short croup would be necessary. The Greater Swiss Mountain Dog and Bernese Mountain Dog breed standards, the Rottweiler’s closest relatives, call for a long, rounded croup. Alternatively, the Akita, who is also a broad dog, has a very short croup. CONTINUED ON PAGE 84
Docked Rottweiler Structure The Rottweiler tail was docked before the ADM, the American Rottweiler Club or the Kennel Club (UK) developed a breed standard. Therefore, all standards have described a dog with a docked tail. As the breed clubs worked to refine the breed standards, Rottweiler structure changed and from the 1930s until today, Rottweilers became more heavily boned and muscled. This structure, including a level This Rottweiler has a tail set often seen in Sweden. Note the shortened croup. 78 Dog News
SBKC
4 Days in Santa Barbara
SAVE THE DATE 4 ALL-BREED SHOWS
& our 3rd Annual Breeders Showcase Sponsored by
Santa Barbara Kennel Club – Saturday – August 27, 2011 Breeder’s Showcase following groups Santa Barbara Kennel Club – Sunday – August 28, 2011 Foreign Bred Competition – Sunday – August 28, 2011 Also join us for:
Simi Valley Kennel Club – Friday – August 26, 2011 Conejo Kennel Club – Monday – August 29, 2011 We will again have dinner on Saturday night compliments of our patrons For further information: Breeder’s Showcase info: Desi Murphy – 914-523-6091 – desichowman@gmail.com or Connie Miller – 269-375-8846 SBKC Show Chairman – David Powers – 818-367-5785 Superintendent: Jack Bradshaw – www.jbradshaw.com Web Site: www.sbkcdogs.com – includes Breeder’s Showcase entry blanks Dog News 79
The
GOSSIP Column H
SH PRINCESS ANTOINETTE OF MONACO has passed away at the age of 90. She was the older sister of PRINCE RAINIER OF MONACO and was an ardent dog lover. She served as president of the Societe Canine de Monaco and was a vice president as well as patron of the Scottish Kennel Club, where she spent some of her childhood. Very popular in European dog circles, where she personally saw to the operation of the dog show in Monaco, which you can imagine was a popular destination on the European dog show circuit. In what we have as close to royalty in the states, JUDSON STREICHER, one of the finest gentleman ever to grace our sport, passed away last week at the age of 86. Jud was a unique man whose passing leaves a huge void in our sport. A longtime boxer breeder with his wife GALE, they were involved in conformation and obedience. They were also well known and successful breeders and owners of thoroughbred race horses and miniature horses at their upstate New York farm. The STREICHERS’ divided their time between their two homes in Westchester and Florida when not traveling the world. Always available, one phone call to his then secretary MARY and your phone would ring minutes later with JUD on the line. JUD was a generous benefactor, both publicly and privately, to many dog organizations from the Westchester Kennel Club to the Dog Museum. He was a recipient of the LANGDON SKARDA AWARD (founded by this writer to honor people who exemplify good sportsmanship and give unselfishly to the sport without any personal gain). A longtime delegate and obedience judge he was a member of the American Boxer Club, Westminster Kennel Club, Westchester Kennel Club, Tuxedo Park Kennel Club and Port Chester Obedience Club. He is survived by his loving wife
BY EUGENE Z. ZAPHIRIS 80 Dog News
GALE and two children, a son JAMES and a daughter KATHERINE O’BRIEN. The family has requested that those wishing can make a contribution to Take The Lead or the Peggy Adams Rescue League, 3200 N. Military Trail, West Palm Beach, Florida 33409. All of us at DOG NEWS send GALE and family our deepest sympathies on their loss. Another well known Boxer fancier and retired judge, JOE HEINE, has passed away. Well into his 90’s he had been living at a nursing facility. All of us at DOG NEWS send our deepest sympathies to Westminster Kennel Club spokesman DAVID FREI and family on the loss of his beloved mother MARIANN, a resident of Denver, Colorado. SIDNEY STAFFORD, longtime Dachshund breeder and well known photographer from Long Island, has passed away. Our deepest sympathies to her children and family. LARRY TERRICONE, BOB VANDIVER and ELIOT MORE are judging in Beijing. Celebrating wedding anniversaries, CHERYL & WAYNE CAVANAUGH, LINDA & RON MATTSON, PAT & JOSEF ULLOA, SHARON & DAVID KROGH. A very Happy Belated Birthday wish to DON DAVIS and CINDY COOKE, MEAGAN ULFERS, ALLISON FOLEY, KELLY WISCH, PEGGY MCGILL, LISA STUMPF, TIFFANY SAXON, DAVID POWERS and DON RODGERS. Celebrating Birthdays…PERRY PHILLIPS, TIM THOMAS, JANE KAY, C.R. BOYES, CHRIS JONES, BRIAN PHILLIPS, DON RODGERS, KEN MURRAY, JANE FLOWERS, KEVIN CHESTNUT, SALLY GEORGE, GWEN DEMILTA, CARLA SANCHEZ, RON SCOTT, BETH SWEIGART, DAVE FREI, MADELYN GOSS, MAKENA TARA MARKEY, ARLENE BENKO, WILL ALEXANDER, SHEA SKINNER, SARAH REIDL, CONNIE CLAPP and ANDREW PEEL.
“ONE BREED...”
“ONE FUTURE!” *Rottweilers R Loved Coalition Dog News 81